Because every dancer deserves to shine
Gently Used Moves collects pre-loved dancewear, shoes, and costumes and redistributes them to dancers who need them most — so talent, not finances, determines who takes the stage.
Dancewear shouldn't be a barrier to dance.
Every year, thousands of dancers outgrow, retire, or replace perfectly good shoes, leotards, tutus, and costumes. Meanwhile, countless aspiring dancers — especially in underserved communities — face steep costs just to participate in class, auditions, and performances.
Gently Used Moves bridges that gap. We collect gently worn dancewear from individuals, studios, and companies across New York City and neighboring areas, carefully sort and clean each item, and redistribute it to dancers, schools, and community programs that need it most.
Three simple steps
Whether you have dancewear to give or need dancewear to receive, the process is straightforward and free.
Donate Your Dancewear
Drop off gently used shoes, leotards, tights, tutus, and costumes at our collection point on the Upper West Side, or contact us to arrange a pickup for larger donations from studios and companies.
We Sort & Care
Every item is inspected, cleaned, and organized by size, style, and condition. Our volunteers ensure each piece is stage-ready before it reaches a new dancer.
Dancers Receive
Dancers, dance schools, and community programs request what they need through our simple intake process. Items are matched and distributed at no cost to the recipients.
Dance is for everyone. When we pass on a pair of shoes that still has life in them, we're not just giving away fabric and ribbon — we're giving a young dancer the chance to keep going.
— Sonia, Founder of Gently Used Moves
Costume Department for Local Camp
We're proud to be partnering with a local summer camp to establish a dedicated costume department, stocked entirely through donations from Gently Used Moves. Dancers and performers at the camp will have access to a wide range of items to support their performances — all at no cost to campers or their families.
This initiative keeps gently used dancewear and accessories in circulation, gives young performers the resources they need to fully participate, and builds a model we hope to replicate with other camps and community programs.
Learn More
How you can help
Every contribution — whether it's a bag of outgrown shoes or an hour of your time — helps a dancer step confidently into the studio.
Donate Dancewear
Have shoes, leotards, tights, or costumes gathering dust? Drop them off at our Upper West Side location or reach out to schedule a studio pickup. All dance styles welcome — ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip-hop, and more.
Get in TouchRequest Dancewear
Are you a dancer, parent, teacher, or program director in need of dancewear? Submit a request and we'll do our best to match you with the items you need — at no cost, no questions asked.
Submit a RequestWant to do more? We're always looking for volunteers to help with sorting, cleaning, distribution, and outreach.
Volunteer With Us